Tramway-switch.



No. 856,715.l l PATENTBD .TUNE 11, 1907.

M. G. MATTHEWS.

TRAMWAY SWITCH.

APPLIOATIQN FILED NOV.10, 1906.

f ummm w f2 1 H f y AMALCOLM C. MATTHEWS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907'.

Application filed November 10,1906. Serial No. 342,889.

To all 'wh/077e t may concern:

Be it known that I, MALCOLM C. MA'rri-Inws a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State et' Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tramway-Switches, oi which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and usel'ul improvements in tramway switches and it particularly pertains to a partially rotatable switch carrying diverging track sections.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a switch of the above type embodying among its novel 'features of construction improved means for locking said switch in any position in which it has been set against accidental displacement and means for restricting the rotation of said switch at selected points in either direction:

The detailed construction will appear m the course oi the following description in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, like numerals designating like parts throughout the several views, wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view or' a switch constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ot a device provided upon the car for tripping said switch. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of the switch. Fig. al. is a detailed fragmentary section of the switch locking means, and Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. A.

Referring specifically to the accompanying drawings the numeral 1 designates a main f track and the numerals 2 and 3 designate curved tracks extending into opposite direction and designed to be individually merged with the track 1 by the mechanism provided therefor and forming the present invention. Adjacent the junction of the tracks 1, 2 and` 3 is an annulus 4 having a horizontal 'flanged extension 5 by which said annulus is secured to the road bed. The annulus 4 serves as a positive support for the switch mechanism. The latter comprises a disk shaped plate 6 formed with a depending flange 7 which rests upon the annulus 4, said flange being proe vided with an oil-set depending shoulder S surrounding the outer side of said annulus and serving to prevent the lateral displacement of the plate 6. Owing to its loose manner of assemblage the plate 6 is freely rotatable upon the annulus 4 and is provided with track sections 2a and 3a oppositely curved and serving to merge the track 1 with the respective tracks 2, and 3. Between the sections 21L and 3 is a vertically extending post 9 projecting thereabove, which ailords an obstacle designed to be engaged by suitable means provided on the car in rotating the plate 6.

As above intimated the rotation of the plate 6 is a partial one and to this end the annulus f1 is provided with stationary inward projections 10 which afford stops to prevent the rotation oi the plate 6 at selected points and are engaged in this function by depending projections 11 carried upon said 4plate and arranged on opposite sides el the adjacent stop 10 so that one projection 11 will engage the adjacent stop when the plate 6 is rotated in one direction and the other projection will engage the stop adjacent thereto when the plate 6 is rotated in an opposite direction. The projections 10 and 11 are shown in dotted lines in F ig. 1. For the purpose of preventing the accidental displacement ot said plate from any position to which it may be moved, the annulus -i is provided with an inwardly projecting portion 12 lhaving' depressions 13 and 14 arranged in the upper edge thereof, The depressions 13 and 14 are formed with inclined sides which alford cam surfaces vfor a depending shoe 15 provided upon the plate 6. Said depressions 13 and 14 are spaced apart a distance equal to the complete rotative movement of said plate and as shown in Fig. 4 the shoe 15 is engaged in the depression 13. It is obvious that when said plate 6 is rotated in the opposite direction, said shoe will ride out ol said depression upon the cam surface thereof and willengage in the depression 14. This engagement is of course eilected by the weight oi the plate 6 and it is to be noted that the shoe 15 has its lower edge conformable to the depressions 13 and 14.

In Fig. 2 an advantageous embodiment. ol means for rotating the plate 6, in the manner described, is illustrated. Such means comprises a vertical shaft 16 j ournaled in the loor 17 of the car and loosely held by means ot' a stop 1S provided on said shaft. The upper end of said sha'lt is provided with an operating handle 19 and the lower end with an enlarged tripping head 20. Adjacent to the shaft 16 is a curved block 21 whichis 'formed in its lower portion with a horizontal recess (not shown) for the reception oi: a projection 22 carried by said sha'lt, said recess serving to guide said sha'ltand to maintain thefsame in IOO IIO

operative position against displacement by obstacles. The upper part of the block 21 is cut away so as to aiford a retaining wall for the projections 22 as indicated in dotted lines, when the sha-ft 16 is lifted to lift the head 20 out of the path of the post 9. Said shaft is lifted by simply rotating the same until the projection 22 moves out of the recesses therefor in the block 21 and by then lifting said shaft until said projection can be placed upon the upper surface of said block.

It is often times necessary for the purpose of repairs that the plate 6 be removed from the annulus 4, l. To this end a suitable handlo 23 of approvedV form is provided, said handle 'being arranged centrally of said plate as is illustrated in Fig. l.

YWhile the elements herein shown and described are well adapted to serve the functions set forth, it is obvious that various minor changes may be made in the proportions, shape and arrangement of the several parts without departing ronifthe spirit and scope of the invention.

Having fully described my invention I Claim:

A switch comprising a stationary annulus, a plate movable thereon, a projection on said annulus having` spaced depressions therein, a projection on said plate designed for engagement in said several depressions, means ior partially rotating said plate, and means for limiting the movement of said plate in either direction.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MALCOLM C. MATTHENS. IVitnesses JOHN W. BRITTON, BEN WOLFF. 

